Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1887-02-23
18th Congress---SecOnd Session.
WASHINGTON, Feb. %, 1887.


SENATE.-After business of routine char.
aeter resolution offered by Mr. Platt au'
thorizing the select committee on Indian
traderships to take testimony during the re-
cess was taken up.
Mr.. Van Wyck offered an amendment Civ
tees-rejected- the resolution was then
passed.
MIR. Riddleberger offered a resolution di-
reeting the publication of all the papers and
documents on the Senate files relating to the
rejection of the nomination of James G..
Matthews as recorder of deeds for the Dis
trict of Columbia. He wanted the reasons
for his vote against confirmation to go before
his constituents. He did not subscribe to
either of the reasons assigned by some gen
tlemen and a portion of the press for
the rejection of Matthews. His reasons
were that charges had been preferred
against Matthews to the effect that he had
gone to eolored msn employed on public
building in Albany, and had threatened them
with discharge unless they voted certain
ticket.
Mr. Harris said he would cheerfully vote
for the resolution, but as to the charge re-
ferred to it had been investigated by the
senator from Kansas Qngalls) and himself,
and they had found that there was not the
slightest foundation for the charge.
Mr. Riddleberger said he had been inform
ed by the chairman of the district committee
that no evidence in the matter had been
taken.
Mr.. Harris said that not only had the evil
dence been taken and reduced to writing,
but the manuscript of it had been laid on the
senator's (Riddleberger's) own desk.
Mr. Riddleberger persisted in declaring his
ignorance of such testimony having been
taken. He spoke of Mr.. Harris change from
opposition to support of the nomination as
miraculous. Mr.. Harris admitted that he
h. ra11 he
cause he believed then as now that the posi-
ton should be given to District of Column
bia man. He had however, changed his
vote as other senators had done. The rejec-
ton originally was by tie vote, subsequent
iy it was by decided majority.
Mr.. Riddleberger's resolution was adopted.
The conference report on the bill as to the
public building at Detroit, Mich. was pre-
sented and agreed to.
The Senate then took up the bill making
appropriations for the expenses of the gov
eminent of the District of Columbia, and af-
ter an explanation of some of its provisions
by Mr.. Plumb it was passed.
On motion of Mr.. Call the Senate bill to
make Tampa, Fla, port of entry was taken
up and passed.
The bill making appropriations for the
military academy was then taken up and
passed.
Mr. Miller moved to take up the bill to
Mr.. Mcpherson antagonized it with motion
to postpone and take up the House resolution
for the investigation of the accounts of the
Pacific railroads; lost, % to 80.
After this vote had been taken and after a
discussion as to the order of business partici-
pated in by Messrs. Miller, VanWyck, Mac
Pherson and Hoar, Mr.. Edmunds said that
the Pacific railroad resolution as it came from
the House was calculated, he wanted to say
designed, to prevent getting on with business
of the Pacific railroads in a definite way.
It was calculated to do precisely what the
railroad companies (if they did not want the
matter determined decisively) would have
wished No matter what old transactions al
investigation might bring out nor how bad
they were, that would be of no possible con-
sequence to the matter IN hand. 1t would
result in delay of one or two or three years
The Judiciary committee, however, had
amended the House proposition so as to keep
the investigation within such limits that
it might be accomplished in a reasonable
time and also by adding provisions that were
of real consequence and Importance pending
final disposition of the matter. AS the
resolution was reported back from the judi
ciary committee, he was for it, not
on account of the investigating part,
which he thought utterly useless, but be-
cause of other legislation in it. Therefore
anybody who supposed that he and other
senators who had voted against the motion
of the senator from New Jersey did so with
the idea of preventing action on that matter
was entirely mistaken.
The Senate then proceeded to consider the
Honse bill to enlarge the powers and duties
of the department of agriculture and to Gre
ate an executive department to be known as
the department of agriculture and labor, and
was addressed by Mr.. Miller in explanation
and advocacy of it. The bill went over as I'M
finished business.
The House amendments to the sundry
civil bill were then disagreed to in bulk and
a committee of conference asked. Senators
Allison, Hale and Beck were appointed as
conferees.
At sos the Senate went into secret session
and at $50 adjourned.